06 Apr 2025

North West District Council’s senior economic planner, Ms Malebogo Magano has informed stakeholders that some of the proposed programmes and projects were subject to change due to the prioritisation process being conducted without a budget ceiling from the relevant ministry. 

Ms Magano made these remarks during a recent District Development Committee (DDC) conference, which convened all development partners to discuss and consolidate contributions to the District Development Plan (DDP 9) and the National Development Plan (NDP 12).

The Local Authority Key Issue Paper (LAKIP), presented by Ms Magano outlined all critical issues within the district that the forthcoming DDP/NDP will address through various programmes and projects. The North West District identified these key issues last year through extensive consultations with local communities. Although they proposed additional projects, she said not all would be approved.

 “Only projects and programmes that are included in NDP 12 will be funded. Those not funded in DDP 9 will be prioritised and carried over into the next national plan,” she said.

Furthermore, she highlighted the necessity for the district to align its identified issues with new government priorities, as well as established development frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and the African Agenda 2063. The newly formed government, Ms Magano noted, was focusing on six pillars and eight priority sectors: mining, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, transport and logistics, financial real estate and business services, and sports and logistics.

Ms Magano cited specific proposals that addressed prominent community concerns, such as the construction of a senior secondary school, aimed at alleviating congestion at the existing Maun Senior Secondary School, the design and construction of internal roads, the installation of solar street lighting, tower lights in strategic areas, and the development and maintenance of stormwater drainage systems in Maun and Sehithwa. Additionally, she said the community proposed for re-instatement of shoulders on existing sealed roads, including pedestrian sidewalks in Maun.

She said other proposed projects included design and construction of cultural village and amphitheater with a view to boost tourism activities, design and construction of a new airport at Chanoga and maintenance thereof as well as construction of multi-species abattoir for small stock, poultry and piggery.

In response, stakeholders commended planners for prioritising developmental projects that aimed to give the district a facelift and improve the livelihoods of the communities. Also, they argued that the district had been lacking behind in terms of developments.

“This document is comprised of good projects and programmes that could take our district to a higher level and I applaud the planners for working collectively,” said Kgosi Cosmos Lelatlhego. ENDS